The Way It Is ! ** Ziam

Part 15

"You know what the best thing about the tour bus is?" Niall asks.

"Cool bunk beds?" Harry supplies.

"The fact that we have a tour bus, in general," Louis puts in.

"No. The fact that we're going over one hundred miles an hour down a highway, and we're all trapped in here. Which means no one can run from their problems," Niall says, answering himself.

Louis frowns. "Is this your way of threatening to fart and trap us all in here? Because you know my stands on biological warfare."

Niall sticks out his tongue, and Zayn shifts a little closer to Liam on the couch, just because he can. They're playing video games, and Liam is kicking his ass, not that he's letting Liam win. He's trying, really freaking hard, but Liam keeps waving a hand in front of his face and knocking his controller out of his hands, the cheater.

He doesn't even mind. It's just nice to have them back to this. Where there's no worry bubbling up inside of him every time he looks at Liam, where neither of them is getting upset with the other. Back to just Liam and Zayn, best friends. And if he keeps replaying that night in the hotel, rolling on the floor together, over and over in his mind, well, they're back at square one, then. He's used to pining ridiculously after Liam. That's just the way it is, and maybe he's happier like this anyway.

"That's not what I was talking about," Niall says, pulling all their attention back to him. "I'm talking about the Liam and Zayn Issue. With a capital I."

Zayn looks up sharply, but Liam literally drops his controller. It tumbles from his hands and hits the floor with a concerning cracking sound. "What are you talking about?" Zayn demands.

Louis nods slowly. "No, this is a brilliant idea. I agree. We should address this now, while they can't run from it."

Liam gives Zayn a blank look, and Zayn has no idea what Niall has planned, but this isn't going to be good. He's happier to just pretend that none of that other stuff happened, and Liam seems on board. Maybe they are avoiding their problems, but isn't that better than screwing everything up again by attempting to fix them?

"I'm staying out of this," Harry says abruptly. "I think we should let them deal with their problems on their own."

"You can't force us to talk about anything," Liam adds. "And I agree with Harry, I think everyone should just stay out of it."

Zayn nods his agreement. He's happier to keep his pining to himself, thanks. And maybe the others are aware of it, but he'd rather Liam not be.

"You know what," Louis says slowly, eyes on Liam, "I think this is a really good time for everyone to watch that video I have from New Year's Eve."

Zayn frowns. What video? Louis made a video of that night? Though it's really not surprising that he doesn't remember. All he really does remember of that night is all of them together at a party, and taking so many shots in these glasses that lit up until he couldn't see straight. And then he'd woken up the next morning in a trashed apartment with the worst hangover of his life.

Liam knows what he's talking about, apparently. He stands up, eyes narrowing. "You promised that you deleted that."

Louis waves his hand dismissively. "Like I would delete perfect blackmailing material." He gets out of his own seat. "I have my laptop on my bunk, actually. I'll just go get that."

Zayn hears Harry whisper to Niall, "What's on the video?" and Niall shakes his head in confusion. But Liam looks both murderous and defeated. He sinks back onto the couch next to Zayn and picks up his controller.